Guaranteed Ride Home Program 101
Taxi Vouchers
OPT Program participants who pledge to use Active/Sustainable Transportation and/or Public Transportation at least 3+ times a week will receive five free taxi vouchers from Halifax Transit’s Guaranteed Ride Home Program for use throughout the year.
Taxi vouchers may be used to get home in case of the following events:
personal or family illness/emergency
overtime
carpool/vanpool partner's emergency, illness or overtime
Taxi vouchers may not be used for the following events:
personal errands such as planned appointments, shopping or socializing
pre-planned medical or dental appointments
work-related travel such as travel to meetings, conferences and work-related spaces.
weather-related transit service delays and disruptions
How to Use GRH Vouchers
Staff with GRH taxi vouchers can use them to get home from work when they are ill, faced with a personal/family emergency, unscheduled overtime, or when their carpool partner is unavailable.
Staff can call the applicable taxi company listed on the GRH voucher and request a ride. Once your taxi arrives staff should alert the taxi driver, they are using a GRH voucher to pay for the ride. When you arrive at home, you will be asked to fill out part of the voucher and the driver will fill out the rest and keep it as payment.
Staff must fill out the Usage Report (bottom half) and send the picture to optprogram@nshealth.ca to record the voucher has been used.
EPass Guidelines
By participating in the EPass program, you are committing to the pass for one year. Please read the full details of the program on this page, including the Frequently Asked Questions page.
Conditions of Use
EPass program is subject to both the:
Halifax Transit service policies and guidelines
EPass contract between NS Health and Halifax Transit.
EPass Cards:
Passes must be presented when boarding and are non-transferable
Are subject to a $25 replacement fee
Passes do not include parking fees at Halifax Transit Park & Ride locations
Halifax Transit is not liable for any disruptions/interruptions in transit services
EPass may be confiscated if:
the pass is improperly used; or
payroll / pre-authorized debit deductions are discontinued
Suspension/Cancellation Policy
The EPass program requires participants to register for one year; however, passes can be either suspended or canceled due to:
change in employment status
change in work location or flex work options
Provincial Health Emergency (COVID-19)
parental leave
medical leave
vacations are not eligible for suspension of the pass
How to Suspend/Cancel your Epass
The EPass card must be returned to NS Health immediately upon suspension or cancellation.
Please email optprogram@nshealth.ca to confirm you would like to suspend/cancel your card. You will receive an email with instructions on returning the pass. Payroll deductions or pre-authorized debit will continue until we confirm receipt of the pass.
Halifax Transit requires payment for an entire month. If you choose to suspend/cancel your pass, please allow enough time to request and confirm your change for the end of the month to avoid charges for the following full month.